Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-04

To-day the vote OF Texas has been taken on sun
dry amendments to the constitution. the most note
worthy OF which affects the liquor traffic. Hitherto
the plan OF campaign adopted by the prohibit
tiOnists the has been to procure the enact
ment Of lOcal-optiOn laws. The liquor interest
never made a united fight against this sort OF
legislation for IL was never seriously threatened
thereby. While one county adopted prohibition,
Che one next to II would often choose license
system instead and the liquor dealers In the latter
county would have their trade increased from
twenty TO fifty per cent by fOragers from the
former. The moral effect OF local option, there
fore, has not been viewed as sufficiently pro-
nOunced. Yielding 10 northern advice strenuOusly
urged, and encouraged by the examples Of Maine,
Kansas, Iowa and Rhode Island the Texas pro-
hibitiOnists about to make their state, IL pos
siole the first in the south 10 accept prohibition as
whole. The lines political are drawn outside of
the old parties, although, as a matter OF fact,
the larger part OF the prohtbitlOnist strength
comes from the white democrats In the cities
the colored vote is arrayed against the amend
ment, while In the country the more respectable
class OF cOOred people are interested in wiping
out, by any means in their power, traffic which
has proved only curse to their race. The sitter
AIRY bureau" has played conspicuous part in The
campaign thus far each side circulating pamph-
lets and tracts in great numbers
Texas as far as its immediate conditions and eff
fects are concerned, prohibition victory would
have far wtder-reaching results. The geOgraph-
iCaI surroundings of the state are peculiar. In
the Indian Territory and Kansas which form its
northern approaches prOhibitOry laws are in force
so that nothing in the Way of alcoholic drink can
come through them. on the west lie New Mex
leo and Arizona, which, they receive the bulk
of their commerce in liquors through Texas, will
not only have their future supplies greatly dimin-
iShed but quite out Of the question as sources
for Texas to draw upon. The customs Surveil-
lance OF the Rio Grande may be depended on TO
protect that border from Illicit Importation In
large quantities Louisiana is the only neighbOr
to be feared and there the prOhibitionists are
gaining strength every day and are taking very
aggressive stand In politics. should Texas cast a
Large vote for prohibition. therefore, the rapid
spread OF the movement through the South may
be looked for.
Messrs. VIC Jury and SpUfTOrd, who are the
counsel for the most important fisharmen'S cor
poration In New England. are excuSable in that
capacity for expressing surprise at anything said
or done that does not tally with the opinions they
have set forth in print and before the legal tri-
bunals- Their aStonishment at Admiral Luces
opinion that american fishermen must not enter
Canadian harOors for any purpose except shelter,
repairs, purchasing wood and obtaining WATER
was professional and matter OF course. The
theory upon which all their operations have pro-
ceeded and all their public utteranceS been made
Is that the rights OF our fishermen do not depend
upon the treaty OF 1sls or any other, but upon
legislation purely, and that the government OF
Great Britain, which has thus far taken no active
part In the quarrel is the only power qualified to
discriminate against our shipping or any depart
ment OF IL. There is not the same excuse how
ever, for their surprise that our government If
shares Admiral Luce'5 views, should have sent
gunbOats TO defend the American fishermen This
IS simply silly our government does not need to be
at odds with that OF any other country In order to
Justify its preparing TO defend its citizens In any
part Of the world where public feeling happens to
be In an excited state. At such times, strangers
who are committing no offence are IN danger of
seizure and detention, or even of undeserved pun
ishment and IT is IMPROVEMENTS purpose, not
10 approve OF its citizens violation OF local laws
but 10 protect them from suffering annoyance
under false charges Of such violation.
All idea OF retaliation by the government seems
70 be definitely abandoned, unless seizure of IL
legal sealers in Alaska may be viewed as an on
Bet 70 Canadian seizures. But there is no reason
why the L. S. Navy should not check unauthor
lied and Illegal annoyance5 from Canadian
cruisers, II ii can be kept anoat long enough to
reach the scene OF action.
In addition 10 its actual and useful yvor, at
last meeting in discussing the need OF an increased
police force, additional police courts and a chanoe
In the District jury law, the Citizens Committee
is credited BY the New York Sun with accusing
William b. Webb Samuel l. Wheatley and VII
lam LUDLOW OF the crimes OF hiding defalcat1ons,
making fraudulent estimates and using the
public funG5 for private purposes. and with
demanding from the President their re-
mOyal- The Citizens Committee has. up 10
the present time, been wisely conservative.
examining carefully, the ground before it and
taking no step without good reason. 1t may
properly resent as libellOus the false and blunder
ing statement which represents &c as accusing.
cOnyict1ng and sentencing without hearing am
without proof Wild and general charges OF cor
ruptiOn have been too often employed nv tho
enemies OF the new Washington 20 fn1ure ft. shak-
Ing tne confidence OF legislators In its government
and causing grudging instead OF liberal proyts.
Hon for It's development and improvement. The
hl-adyiSed resolutions Of the water-grievance
meeting promise 70 be put to the same use.
The utterances OF the civil service rerorrners q,
their Newport meeting VIII be received nv Tho
public at large with various expressions of nraisa
and blame, according 10 the bias OF each tnd,.
Vldual critic. Most Intelligent citizens however
VIII be agreed on one point, namely, that the de-
mand 1or open sessions or the Senate for the con-
sheraton OF executive nominations was mort,
nent IL viii need all the efforts that GOOD c,t,-
lens can put forth 20 bring about a change I'm tba
present star Chamber system, and good fr,e nd
10 the proposed reform was lost last winter NV rho
death OF Senator Logan. 1t Is to be hopa, ,bot
Aessrs Hiscock, Davis, Daniels, and the ofbe-
new senator's OF prominence will be found nm tho
popular side Of this question, which is also The
nsht side from every logical point OF view.
->O>-
Inc report OF Col. Hams on The river frnnrova
ment shows that the Commercial facilities or ,na.
city have been enlarged, 46I acres OF marsh ,aI.o
reclaimed and added 20 its area its sanitary O.
ntion vastly improved and the danger OF fres,,ets
ana Ice gorgeS lessened- This great work s.t onId
NOT De perLntted 70 retrograde from lack of ear.
nest support, either on the part OF Com o,s.,o-
ers, citizens. or Congress There are few nrn,ac,s
In which Washington is more deeply int crested
In pressing for extra policemen for ne city thu
SleZshs' Coinmittee cannot ask too much or too
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